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THE BIG (NAT GAS) BOOM: Speculation is mounting that the Bureau of Land Management is likely to release its reworked rules for hydraulic fracturing on federal lands by the end of the week, and the Obama administration also appears poised to announce approval of at least one new plant to export liquefied natural gas. Depending on the details, the two announcements could go a long way toward fulfilling the promises President Barack Obama made during the campaign about helping the natural gas industry. Environmental groups, meanwhile, are fearful that Interior may be backing away from tough regulation on fracking, and they have pressed the administration to create robust protection for water supplies and wildlife from fracking. Darren Goode breaks it down for Pros: http://politico.pro/17YFiDA

OBAMA KEEPS PUSHING NAT GAS EXPORTS: Obama yesterday again gave a positive outlook on the U.S. starting to export natural gas. “When it comes to energy, not only have we been able to double our production of clean energy, but even in terms of traditional energy, we will probably be a net exporter of natural gas in somewhere between five and 10 years,” Obama said at a Democratic National Committee event in New York. “And so the idea of the United States being energy independent — which seemed far-fetched as recently as 10 years ago — now is actually a possibility.” Last week Obama touted U.S. exports as a way to lower energy costs in Central America.

EDAF LAUNCHES ADS PROMOTING McCARTHY: Pros got this news last night: The Environmental Defense Action Fund is starting a TV ad campaign today (or possibly tomorrow, depending on logistics) to spur Senate approval of Gina McCarthy’s bid to head EPA and chastise Republicans for stalling a committee vote. The 30-second ad quotes business leaders praising McCarthy and notes that Mitt Romney had named her to an environmental post when he was Massachusetts governor. The ad will run for a week in Boston; Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Chicago and Peoria, Ill.; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Washington, D.C. The spot: http://youtu.be/qF3z4_-KicM

GAS UP 6 CENTS IN ONE WEEK: The price of regular gasoline went up 6 cents since last week, the largest weekly increase since February, AAA said yesterday. Regular gasoline averaged $3.58 a gallon nationwide Monday, 4 cents per gallon more than a month ago. The national average has been lower this year for 72 straight days compared with the price the same calendar day last year. But that year-over-year decrease has narrowed to 15 cents per gallon after being as wide as 39 cents per gallon on April 18, according to AAA.

CONNAUGHTON MOVES TO C3: George W. Bush-era Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Jim Connaughton has left Exelon, where he had been a top executive after the utility bought Constellation Energy, for C3 Energy, an energy grid data analytics firm. Connaughton is now executive vice president at C3, which also boasts involvement from former Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Exelon Executive Chairman Mayo Shattuck and former DOE acting undersecretary Cathy Zoi.

MORE MOVERS, SHAKERS: Jeff Lane, DOE’s congressional affairs chief for three years, is leaving at the end of the month to “pursue private sector opportunities,” DOE says. Lane previously worked as a chief of staff to Sen. Michael Bennet and then-Sen. Ken Salazar, and was a senior aide to Tom Daschle.

— Ellen Carey, the longtime media relations manager for the American Wind Energy Association, is moving to Securing America’s Energy Future, a group focused on cutting dependence on oil via policy reform. Carey told ME she is excited to work on energy policy as a whole.

E&C MARKS UP RELIABILITY BILL: The Energy and Commerce Committee today will begin a markup of several bills, including H.R. 271, which would provide protections for power plants against environmental lawsuits when ordered to remain active by DOE for reliability reasons. A version of the bill passed the House by voice vote last August. A spokeswoman for Rep. Pete Olson, the bill’s sponsor, said they expect no amendments today. Markup info: http://1.usa.gov/18DmXNI. Markup begins today at 4 p.m. and continues tomorrow at 10 a.m., Rayburn 2123

Speaking of Pete Olson: The Texas Republican will unveil a bill today that would expand the Renewable Fuel Standard to include ethanol derived from natural gas. Olson's office says the change will help alleviate pressure placed on the food and feedstock markets by corn-based ethanol requirements. Co-sponsors include Republicans Ted Poe, Ralph Hall, Tom Cole and Joe Barton and Democrats Jim Costa, Peter Welch and Gene Green, among others.

** A message from America's Natural Gas Alliance: The safe and responsible development of natural gas supports more than 2.8 million jobs across the country. Curious what the economic benefit is for your state? Find out by using our interactive U.S. map at http://bit.ly/TIZPJJ. **

CUOMO GIVES LIPA THE BOOT: Via Reuters: “Long Island Power Authority, a state-owned New York utility company that was criticized for its response during last year's Superstorm Sandy, will see most of its operations taken over by a private company, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Monday. Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. …, a private utility in neighboring New Jersey, will take over management of LIPA's operations next year. … Sandy in October left more than 90 percent of the 1.1 million LIPA customers on Long Island without power, some for more than two weeks.” Reuters: http://reut.rs/YRHMmN

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Cameron Kerry, brother to Secretary of State John Kerry and the general counsel for the Commerce Department, will take over as acting head of that agency once acting Secretary Rebecca Blank steps aside in June. The president nominated Penny Pritzker earlier this month to be Commerce secretary, but the Senate still must confirm her. CNN: http://bit.ly/19jIzMw

HERSETH SANDLIN WON’T RUN IN SOUTH DAKOTA: Former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, who national Democrats believed was their best hope of holding the South Dakota Senate seat, announced Monday that she will not run in 2014. It’s a big boost for Republicans, who look more likely than ever to pick up the seat being opened by the retirement of Sen. Tim Johnson. James Hohmann has more on the state of the race: http://politi.co/YQEVKU

HAMM AND HIS COMPANY INK SIDE DEAL ON PIPELINE: A pipeline Continental Resources has committed $95.8 million is actually a $300 million joint project with a partnership controlled by the company's own founder, Harold Hamm, and his family, the Wall Street Journal reports. “Directors of Continental, which has a stock-market value of about $15.5 billion, said the deal was fully and appropriately vetted to avoid any conflicts of interest. … The deal, under which Continental committed to pay the partnership for $95.8 million of pipeline capacity whether or not the company uses the line to ship oil, highlights the close ties between Mr. Hamm's private interests and the public company he runs.” WSJ: http://on.wsj.com/10mcaUO

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE PICTURE: “Saturday Night Live” made a tiny error in a sketch Saturday set at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Benghazi — actor Kenan Thompson, playing panel ranking member Elijah Cummings, was identified one his nameplate as “Doc Hastings.” Hastings, who chairs the Natural Resources Committee, also sits on the Oversight Committee. “While my boss is often confused with [Democratic Rep.] Alcee Hastings, him being confused with Elijah Cummings is a new one,” a spokesman for Doc Hastings, Neal Kirby, told ME. Rep. Trey Gowdy, portrayed on SNL by Taran Killam, was also misidentified as Democrat Peter Welch on his nameplate. Watch: http://bit.ly/15GuBZ0

QUICK HITS

— Sens. Robert Menendez and Mark Kirk, among others are looking at legislation designed to dramatically lower Iran's oil exports. Washington Post: http://wapo.st/13g2QiM

— Fred Upton says inspectors have found the source of a water leak that shut down the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan and are making repairs. AP: http://bit.ly/101GLr5

— National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has launched the fund to administer $2.5 billion in restoration money paid by BP and Transocean. Times-Picayune: http://bit.ly/13u70Y2

— The National Science Foundation is giving $20 million to Nevada's higher education system for solar research. AP: http://buswk.co/17naEGn

— The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments today in a battle between the Interior Department and an oyster company located in a national seashore. Press-Democrat: http://bit.ly/ZWfliR

— The Supreme Court yesterday sided with Monsanto in a case over the company's genetically altered soybeans. New York Times: http://nyti.ms/17Xxz8S

THAT’S ALL FOR ME. Have a great day.

** A message from America's Natural Gas Alliance: We believe in a clean energy future. Natural gas is a cleaner energy choice and a key partner to solar and wind technologies. From California to Florida, natural gas facilities are working with renewable energy to ensure steady, affordable and cleaner energy choices for communities across our nation. Because it is an abundant and affordable energy source available right here in America, natural gas can help make the promise of cleaner energy a reality in more American communities. Natural gas is smarter power today. Visit anga.us to learn more. **